Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain system includes a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven power transmission mechanism having a power take-off adapted to drive a vehicle accessory, and a second prime mover. The second prime mover is operable to drive the power transmission mechanism alone or in combination with the first prime mover to provide power to the power take-off through the power transmission mechanism. The invention further includes methods for operating a hybrid vehicle powertrain system.

Abstract: Flexible and semi-rigid vinyl chloride resin compositions comprising a combination of a latent mercaptan and a zinc salt of oxidized polyethylene (a zinc ionomer) as a heat stabilizer are substantially free from the offensive odor typically associated with mercaptans and are protected during processing by the degradation products of the latent mercaptan and the zinc ionomer. The oxidized polyethylene is split out from the ionomer to act as an adhesion promoter for aqueous inks and paints, and the residual zinc carboxylate functions as a co-stabilizer with the latent mercaptan in the composition. The latent mercaptan is exemplified by a 2-S-(tetrahydropyranyl)thioalkanol, a carboxylic acid ester thereof, a 2-S-(tetrahydropyranyl)thiocarboxylic acid, an ester thereof, and the furanyl homologs of each.

Abstract: A transmission shifting mechanism (10) and position sensor assembly. The shifting mechanism includes a member (32) of known flux-conducting or flux-insulating properties movable therewith, which will variably extend (42, 44, 46) into an electric coil (36), which is periodically charged and then allowed to discharge. The rate of discharge is variable with the position of the member in the coil and, thus, provides a signal indicative to mechanism condition (H, N, L).